Crackle z-z-z-z-z-t

"Hey, there, Toby! I'm calling in on your hot wire frequency over in the baby goats' stall. You know, the camera Wendy and John put up there. Can you hear me?"

"Omigod! How'd you do this?"

"Aha! Good, we can hear each other. I fiddled around with my phone. You never know what the pixels might do next. All of a sudden, I could hear the goats and chickens and I was pretty sure I heard you when Wendy opened your can of indoor cat food."

"This is a surprise! I'm glad it's not the neighbor's frequency crossing over the hot wire. Wish they'd just play some music instead of all that talk stuff. How come you haven't been here for a while?"

"That's why I was fiddling with my phone. I wanted to see you but the last time I came and walked the path around the farm, I got three ticks attached to me. So, now I'm afraid to go on those walks."

"I miss you. Maybe you could come over sometime, and sketch while I take a nap on your lap."

I couldn't get a clear picture of how I could sketch while Toby napped on my lap. Still, it was a nice invitation so I said, "That's a good thought. Are you outdoors most of these spring days?"

"Yup. A guy has to check out the barn's fence line. There are tasty things out there. Even the bugs taste better."

"Well, I'll see you soon, my friend. For now, it's good to hear your voice."

"Hope I see you soon."

There was a crackle and a z-z-z-z-z-t sound. Then quiet.

From Wendy.

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The Arts Desk:

Be sure to go to Paula Borchardt - Visual Storyteller Substack post How I Fell in Love with Watercolor, and enjoy her images and the story that goes with them. She also sent her latest entry for the Perpetual Journal she keeps of her southwestern observations...

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My sister Susie in Missouri began a watercolor class as mentioned in an earlier post. Here are samples of her renderings...

One of Susie's irises now blooming.

Last Fall's Gingko leaves at Missouri Botanical Garden.

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The Sports Desk:

Our family footballer, Oliver, expanded his sports to include Track and Field. Here he is Hurdle Racing...

Good work, Oliver!!!

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Also, in Missouri, young Lili LOVES her gymnastics class. From her great-grandmother Sandy...

Good job, Lili!!!

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It was fun to visit Carol and Janie in Tucson via our pixilated world...

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Dock Woods campus includes a very large courtyard surrounded on all sides by housing that is connected by windowed hallways. Every late springtime that I've been here, (five! of them) a duck has flown in to hide her clutch of eggs. This late springtime was no different...

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